Gloria Miranda, the director of Colombia's Illicit Crop Substitution Program, emphasizes the transnational nature of drug trafficking and the importance of collaborative efforts between Colombia and Ecuador, particularly in their shared northern border region. She highlights that drug trafficking groups operate without regard to borders, necessitating an integrated approach to combat illicit cultivation.

Miranda elaborates on the Colombian strategy of replacing coca with legal economies as a key element of their anti-drug efforts. She notes that this approach has seen varying degrees of success in border regions and outlines specific results that could inform Ecuador's own strategies in addressing similar challenges. By learning from Colombia's experiences, Ecuador can enhance its prevention and combat initiatives against drug trafficking.

The conversation underscores the need for regional cooperation in tackling the complexities of drug trafficking, where solutions require not only national strategies but also collaborative frameworks involving multiple nations. This perspective is crucial in understanding how countries can work together to confront shared challenges posed by organized crime and illicit economies.